And so you have the first meditation. The second must be of the infinite mercies of God in Christ, who is graciously ready in him, the Son of his loves, to accept of every sinner that renouncing himself, and all his own righteousness, doth fly wholly to ⟨p. 85⟩him for refuge. For the Lord is a God,1 gracious & merciful, slow to anger, abundant in kindness and truth, reserving mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin. His mercy is as high above us as heaven is above the earth. 2He will abundantly forgive, 3and his ways are not as our ways, nor his thoughts as our thoughts, for as the heavens are higher then the earth, so are his ways higher then our ways, and his thoughts above our thoughts. Yea he hath multitude of tender ⟨p. 86⟩compassions, and is rich in mercy to all that call upon him, 4and his mercy endureth for ever. You see by these words of Scripture what store of mercy there is in God, and what quantity of compassion poor sinners that are humbled, must look to find with him. Now consider further, what is this mercy and compassion of God? Doubtless it is a willingness, promptness, readiness, forwardness, full resolution to accept of miserable sinners that ⟨p. 87⟩have made themselves most wretched by their sins, and to relieve their miseries when they humbly stoop unto him. Mercy is not an ability to pardon and help if one will, but a willingness to help and pardon when one is able. We do not call him a merciful man, that could help a poor distressed person if he would, but it is not his pleasure so to do, for so it may be with a most cruel and hard hearted fellow. The most rigorous and exacting rich Usurer, could forgive ⟨p. 88⟩his debtor (that is a bankrupt and can pay him nothing) if he would, but he will not though he can, and therefore doth not deserve to be called merciful. The most fierce and furious tyrant might forgive his subject, if he would, that hath offended, but because he is not willing, therefore no man styles him pitiful and gracious. So neither were the God of heaven full of grace, mercy and compassion, if only he were able to forgive humbled sinners, and would not; ⟨p. 89⟩that were not mercy I say, that were not compassion, but this is grace, this is compassion.
And so you have the first meditation. The second must be of the infinite mercies of God in Christ, who is gratiously ready in him, the Sonne of his loves, to accept of every sinner that renouncing himselfe, and all his owne righteousnesse, doth flie wholy to ⟨p. 85⟩him for refuge. For the Lord is a God,1 gratious & mercifull, slowe to anger, abundant in kindnesse and truth, reserving mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression and sinne. His mercy is as high above us as heaven is above the earth. 2He will abundantly forgive, 3and his waies are not as our waies, nor his thoughts as our thoughts, for as the heavens are higher then the earth, so are his waies higher then our waies, and his thoughts above our thoughts. Yea hee hath multitude of tender ⟨p. 86⟩compassions, and is rich in mercy to all that call upon him, 4and his mercy endureth for ever. You see by these words of Scripture what store of mercy there is in God, and what quantity of compassion poore sinners that are humbled, must looke to finde with him. Now consider further, what is this mercy and compassion of God? Doubtlesse it is a willingnesse, promptnesse, readinesse, forwardnesse, full resolution to accept of miserable sinners that ⟨p. 87⟩have made themselves most wretched by their sinnes, and to relieve their miseries when they humbly stoope unto him. Mercy is not an ability to pardon and helpe if one will, but a willingnesse to helpe and pardon when one is able. Wee doe not call him a mercifull man, that could help a poore distressed person if he would, but it is not his pleasure so to doe, for so it may be with a most cruell and hard hearted fellow. The most rigorous and exating rich Usurer, could forgive ⟨p. 88⟩his debtor (that is a banckerout and can pay him nothing) if hee would, but he will not though he can, and therfore doth not deserve to be called mercifull. The most fierce and furious tyrant might forgive his subject, if he would, that hath offended, but because he is not willing, therefore no man styles him pitifull and gratious. So neither were the God of heaven full of grace, mercy and compassion, if onely he were able to forgive humbled sinners, and would not;
- 1Exod. 14 6.
- 2Psal 103 11.
- 3Isa. 55.7, 2, 9.
- 4Rom. 10 12.
